Turkish Pasta

Turkish pasta is a comforting, flavorful dish layered with tender noodles, rich ground beef sauce, creamy garlic yogurt, and a drizzle of spiced butter infused with mint and paprika. Known in Turkey as “Yalancı Mantı” (Fake Manti), this dish brings all the beloved flavors of traditional Turkish dumplings—without the fuss. It’s quick, hearty, and guaranteed to impress, whether you’re serving it for family dinner or introducing friends to Turkish cuisine.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• ✅ A traditional dish made fast
• ✅ Bold, layered flavors in every bite
• ✅ Uses pantry staples
• ✅ Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions
• ✅ TikTok viral but rooted in Turkish home cooking

Ingredients

Pasta

• 300g pasta (shells, penne, or fusilli)

Ground Beef Sauce

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 450g ground beef
• 1½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp pul biber (or Aleppo pepper)
• 2 medium tomatoes, pureed (or ¾ cup canned tomatoes)

Garlic Yogurt Sauce

• 200g plain yogurt
• 2 cloves garlic, mashed
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tbsp lemon juice

Spiced Butter Sauce

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tsp dried mint
• 2 tsp paprika

Optional Garnish

• Fresh chopped parsley
• Extra pul biber

Instructions

1. Make the Beef Sauce
   Heat olive oil in a skillet. Sauté onion until translucent. Add garlic and tomato paste; cook for 1 minute. Stir in ground beef and brown well. Add spices and pureed tomatoes. Simmer 5–7 minutes. Set aside.
2. Cook the Pasta
   Boil the pasta in salted water until soft (traditional Turkish-style). Drain and set aside.
3. Prepare Yogurt Sauce
   In a bowl, mix yogurt, garlic, salt, and lemon juice. Add a splash of water if too thick.
4. Make Spiced Butter Sauce
   Melt butter and olive oil in a small pan. Add mint and paprika, stirring for 5–10 seconds. Remove from heat.
5. Assemble the Dish
   Divide pasta into bowls. Layer beef sauce, followed by yogurt sauce, then drizzle the hot butter sauce. Garnish and serve!

Recipe Details

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Servings: 4

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving – Estimated)

• Calories: 764
• Protein: 33g
• Carbs: 70g
• Fat: 39g
• Fiber: 6g
• Sodium: 1686mg

Tips & Variations

• 🥩 Use lamb or turkey instead of beef for a twist
• 🌿 Substitute Greek yogurt + lemon if Turkish yogurt isn’t available
• 🔥 Add chili flakes or more pul biber for heat
• 🧄 Don’t skip the garlic—it’s essential in the yogurt sauce
• 🍅 No fresh tomatoes? Use canned crushed tomatoes instead

FAQs

Can I make Turkish pasta ahead of time?
Yes! Make the meat sauce up to 4 days in advance. Store separately and reheat before assembling.

Is it freezer-friendly?
Only the beef sauce freezes well. Yogurt and butter sauces are best fresh.

What pasta shape is best?
Shells mimic the shape of manti, but penne, rigatoni, or fusilli also work.

Turkish Pasta

Hearty, quick, and rich in Turkish flavor—this dish brings together pasta, meat, and yogurt in a way that’s bold, creamy, and unforgettable.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 3

Calories 764 kcal

Equipment

• – Large skillet
• – Pasta pot
• Small saucepan
• Bowls for mixing and serving

Ingredients

  

• 300 g pasta shells, penne, or fusilli
• Ground Beef Sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 450 g ground beef
• 1½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp pul biber
• 2 medium tomatoes pureed
• Garlic Yogurt Sauce
• 200 g plain yogurt
• 2 garlic cloves mashed
• 1 tsp salt
• ½ tbsp lemon juice
• Spiced Butter Sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tsp dried mint
• 2 tsp paprika
• Optional
• Fresh parsley pul biber

Instructions

 

• Sauté onion in olive oil. Add garlic and tomato paste. Cook 1 min.
• Add ground beef; cook until browned. Stir in spices and tomatoes. Simmer 5–7 min.
• Boil pasta; drain and set aside.
• Mix yogurt, garlic, salt, and lemon juice in a bowl. Thin if needed.
• In a small pan, melt butter and olive oil. Stir in mint and paprika for 5–10 sec.
• Assemble: Pasta → Beef sauce → Yogurt sauce → Spiced butter. Garnish and serve.

Notes

Best enjoyed fresh

Use gluten-free pasta to make it GF

Store beef sauce separately if prepping ahead

Keyword turkish pasta

Conclusion

Turkish pasta delivers layers of bold flavor in under 30 minutes. With its creamy garlic yogurt, hearty beef ragu, and fragrant spiced butter, it’s no surprise this dish went viral. But long before TikTok, it was a beloved shortcut to Turkish dumpling flavor. Whether you’re new to Turkish cuisine or a lifelong fan, this is one comfort dish you’ll return to again and again.